How to Properly Cite a Quotation in a Footnote Using Chicago Style

In academic writing, particularly in disciplines such as history and humanities, proper citation is essential to ensure the integrity and credibility of your work. When citing a quotation in a footnote using Chicago style, it is crucial to provide specific details about the source. Here, we discuss the general format for citing both books and journal articles, along with some tips to help you navigate this process effectively.

General Format for Footnote Citations

For a Book

The general format for citing a book in a footnote using Chicago style is as follows:

Author's Name: Put the author's first name followed by the last name. Title of the Book: In italics. If the title is less than 30 words, do not include other details. If longer, include the publisher's name and publication year in parentheses immediately after the title, separated by a comma. Also, include the page number where the cited quotation can be found. Publisher: City, State, or Country of publication. Separate this from the year of publication with a comma. Year of Publication: Years in parentheses. Page Number: Street name and number of the page, followed by a period.

Example:

n - John Doe
Understanding History
New York: History Press, 2020. 45.

For a Journal Article

The general format for citing a journal article in a footnote using Chicago style is as follows:

Author's Name: Same as for books. Journal Title: The title of the journal in italics. Use the abbreviation for the journal (as found in the MLA Handbook) if more than 45 characters. Volume Number and Issue Number: The volume number, followed by no., for the issue number. Both are separated by zeros. Year of Publication: Enclose the year in parentheses. Page Numbers: Start the page numbers with colon. Add a DOI or URL if applicable.

Example:

n - Jane Smith
Environmental Studies
15, no. 2 (2021): 123-145.

General Tips

Include All Necessary Details: Always make sure to include the author's name, title of the book or article, place of publication, publisher, year of publication, and page numbers. Use Shortened Forms for Repeated Citations: If you are citing the same source multiple times, you can use a shortened form in subsequent footnotes. For example, if you have cited John Doe's Understanding History at the first citation, you can use 'Doe' in subsequent footnotes. However, ensure that the author's name and page number are always included. Adapt the Format: The format may vary slightly based on the specific type of source (book, article, website, etc.). Follow any specific guidelines provided by your institution or professor. Follow the Guidelines: Always refer to the Chicago Manual of Style (latest edition) for detailed and up-to-date guidelines.

Commentary in Footnotes

When you wish to include a citation and additional commentary or a quote, separate the citation from the commentary with a comma. If you are citing the same source multiple times with similar commentary, you can use a shortened form. However, the full citation should be included the first time.

Example:

This is your text. As you approach the relevant passage, you will have a superscript footnote number. 1, First name last name, [citation in footnote style], etc. Explanation in text: “Quotation of significant note or import.”

The format for the first citation:

1. Jane Smith, Environmental Studies 15, no. 2 (2021): 123-145, as quoted by Doe, Understanding History (New York: History Press, 2020), 47.

Subsequent citations:

1, Doe, Loading your sources 47.